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  1. #1
    New Member BiOsLaSh's Avatar
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    DWR vs. Water-resistent vs. Water-proof vs. Urethane Coating

    I need to call upon the wisdom of the forum. I'm new to the DIY hammock gear and our scout troop is getting ready to make hammocks and tarps. I'm just confused on the tarp fabric. We can't afford to get silnylon but obviously want a "water-proof" nylon for the tarp. I'm just not sure what the difference is when a fabric says "DWR" or "water-resistant" or "water-proof" or "urethane coating." Do they say "water-resistant" just because nothing is water-proof? Does "DWR" not necessarily mean there is a coating, referring to nylon's natural ability to shed water? Does "DWR" mean there is usually a coating of, most likely, urethane?
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  2. #2
    New Member BiOsLaSh's Avatar
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    Obviously the tarp doesn't need to breath at all. What would the fabric of a tent's rainfly be classified as. It seems to have a coating on it and for all intents and purposes is "water-proof."
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  3. #3
    Senior Member nuttysquirrel's Avatar
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    coated or impregnated.

  4. #4
    Senior Member pgibson's Avatar
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    DWR is Durable Water Repelant. This is a spray on coating that is added to some fabrics to make them shed water....think like scotch guard. It makes fabric resistant to water. Nylon does not naturally shed moisture, it easily and readily wets out and allows water to flow through. A DWR is added to make it shed some moisture. This kind of fabric is good for hammocks, quilts, wind shirts, and other gear that is not going to be exposed directly to heavy moisture.

    Polyurathane is also a coating that is added to fabrics, however it is quite heavy in nature usually...like what you would feel on one side of a tent floor or fly. It's usually waterproof to a pretty high PSI and is rated as such by many manufactures. However it is heavy. If your fabric weighs 1.9 ounces per yard and a Polyurathan coating is added for waterproofness then your most likely going to have 1 or more ounces per yard added to the weight...so that 1.9 turns into 3+ ounces per yard.....a hammock tarp will come out in the 2-3 pound range (give or take a bit) This fabric is usable for tarps and tents but keep the weight penalty in mind.

    Silicone (silNylon) is another coating type that is added to the fibers of the tarp one of several different ways, including impregnation...a term you will likely hear when talking sil/silnylon. The methods that are used usually will make a fabric that is extremely water resistant but if you put them under high PSI pressure they will weep water through. For backpacking tarps though it's a good trade off as the finished fabric ends up weighing much less than most other coatings. This fabric is great for tarps, pack covers, rain poncho's and the like that will be exposed to rain but not much pressure...like a tent floor that you're laying on with wet ground below. A hammock tarp out of this will usually be under a pound.

    Waterproof is a semi subjective term as you brought up. However you will need to weight out the weight versus cost aspect of various fabrics.
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  5. #5
    Senior Member
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    Have you checked the silnylon pricing at http://ripstopbytheroll.com/collections/silnylon ?

  6. #6
    Senior Member Zilla's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pgibson View Post
    DWR is Durable Water Repelant. This is a spray on coating that is added to some fabrics to make them shed water....think like scotch guard. It makes fabric resistant to water. Nylon does not naturally shed moisture, it easily and readily wets out and allows water to flow through. A DWR is added to make it shed some moisture. This kind of fabric is good for hammocks, quilts, wind shirts, and other gear that is not going to be exposed directly to heavy moisture.

    Polyurathane is also a coating that is added to fabrics, however it is quite heavy in nature usually...like what you would feel on one side of a tent floor or fly. It's usually waterproof to a pretty high PSI and is rated as such by many manufactures. However it is heavy. If your fabric weighs 1.9 ounces per yard and a Polyurathan coating is added for waterproofness then your most likely going to have 1 or more ounces per yard added to the weight...so that 1.9 turns into 3+ ounces per yard.....a hammock tarp will come out in the 2-3 pound range (give or take a bit) This fabric is usable for tarps and tents but keep the weight penalty in mind.

    Silicone (silNylon) is another coating type that is added to the fibers of the tarp one of several different ways, including impregnation...a term you will likely hear when talking sil/silnylon. The methods that are used usually will make a fabric that is extremely water resistant but if you put them under high PSI pressure they will weep water through. For backpacking tarps though it's a good trade off as the finished fabric ends up weighing much less than most other coatings. This fabric is great for tarps, pack covers, rain poncho's and the like that will be exposed to rain but not much pressure...like a tent floor that you're laying on with wet ground below. A hammock tarp out of this will usually be under a pound.

    Waterproof is a semi subjective term as you brought up. However you will need to weight out the weight versus cost aspect of various fabrics.
    Very clear and well put, that sums it all up perfectly !

  7. #7
    Senior Member Zilla's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gmcttr View Post
    Have you checked the silnylon pricing at http://ripstopbytheroll.com/collections/silnylon ?
    Thanks , they are some good prices there. i cant find coated ripstop much cheaper then that anywhere latley, almost 5 bucks a yard on ebay,- might as well go with the syl,, much lighter and will most likely hold up longer

  8. #8
    New Member BiOsLaSh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pgibson View Post
    DWR is Durable Water Repelant. This is a spray on coating that is added to some fabrics to make them shed water....think like scotch guard. It makes fabric resistant to water. Nylon does not naturally shed moisture, it easily and readily wets out and allows water to flow through. A DWR is added to make it shed some moisture. This kind of fabric is good for hammocks, quilts, wind shirts, and other gear that is not going to be exposed directly to heavy moisture.

    Polyurathane is also a coating that is added to fabrics, however it is quite heavy in nature usually...like what you would feel on one side of a tent floor or fly. It's usually waterproof to a pretty high PSI and is rated as such by many manufactures. However it is heavy. If your fabric weighs 1.9 ounces per yard and a Polyurathan coating is added for waterproofness then your most likely going to have 1 or more ounces per yard added to the weight...so that 1.9 turns into 3+ ounces per yard.....a hammock tarp will come out in the 2-3 pound range (give or take a bit) This fabric is usable for tarps and tents but keep the weight penalty in mind.

    Silicone (silNylon) is another coating type that is added to the fibers of the tarp one of several different ways, including impregnation...a term you will likely hear when talking sil/silnylon. The methods that are used usually will make a fabric that is extremely water resistant but if you put them under high PSI pressure they will weep water through. For backpacking tarps though it's a good trade off as the finished fabric ends up weighing much less than most other coatings. This fabric is great for tarps, pack covers, rain poncho's and the like that will be exposed to rain but not much pressure...like a tent floor that you're laying on with wet ground below. A hammock tarp out of this will usually be under a pound.

    Waterproof is a semi subjective term as you brought up. However you will need to weight out the weight versus cost aspect of various fabrics.

    Thanks pgibson! Just the knowledge I was looking for!
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  9. #9
    New Member BiOsLaSh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gmcttr View Post
    Have you checked the silnylon pricing at http://ripstopbytheroll.com/collections/silnylon ?
    I have checked there. I actually bought some silnylon there for myself but I haven't made my tarp yet. Ripstopbytheroll has great prices and is very helpful. Still is a little pricey when trying to make 26 tarps.
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  10. #10
    Senior Member
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    For the amount you want I would be looking for a roll at roll pricing.

    Just a quick look:

    http://www.owfinc.com/fabrics.html

    check coated ripstop and look at the wholesale price.
    Last edited by nothermark; 05-05-2014 at 18:41.
    YMMV

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    Free advice worth what you paid for it. ;-)

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